Teaching Children to Stand

Is your child comfortably pulling to stand or cruising along furniture, but hesitant to let go and stand on their own?

Independent standing requires a combination of static and dynamic balance, core and lower-body strength, coordination, and confidence. For some little ones, that last step from cruising to standing independently can take a little extra encouragement!

Here are some simple, PT-approved strategies to help your little one build the skills and confidence they need for independent standing.

Tips to Encourage Independent Standing

Shift Their Focus

Take the focus off your child and instead focus on the motivating people, toys, or objects around them!

Distraction can be a great strategy. Offer a favorite book, bubbles, a novel toy, or something else that captures their attention. When their hands and mind are busy, they may be more willing to briefly let go of their support.

Try Strategic Toy Placement

Keep favorite toys and activities off the floor. Place them on shelves, tables, or other stable surfaces at a height that encourages your child to stand and reach.

Vary the height and position of the toy to encourage your child to shift their weight, reach in different directions, and gradually spend more time standing without relying completely on their hands.

Use Vertical Surfaces

Vertical surfaces provide a great opportunity for your child to practice reaching while standing, including reaching across their body and turning toward different directions. Suction spinners can be a fun and motivating option and can affix to any smooth vertical surface!

Offer Dynamic Support

A therapy ball can provide a different type of support than a stationary piece of furniture. With close adult supervision, the ball can be positioned in front of, behind, or beside your child to encourage them to work on balance while still having some external support.

This can help reduce their dependence on a person for support while encouraging trunk control, postural stability, and body awareness.

Turn on the Music

Find a song your child loves and have a dance party!

Once your child sees you standing, bouncing, and moving to the beat, encourage them to join the fun. Music and rhythm can naturally encourage weight shifting and movement.

You can also give your child an egg shaker or tambourine to keep their hands busy while they practice standing.

Mix It Up

Change up the environment when you can!

Visit the park, beach, a friend’s or relative’s house, or a different play space. Practicing skills in new environments gives your child opportunities to experience different surfaces, challenges, and motivations.

Bring a Friend

Peer modeling can be a powerful motivator. If you have access to a peer who is already standing and walking, give your child opportunities to watch and interact with them.

Try passing a soft ball back and forth. Your child may be motivated to stand longer while participating in a fun social game, and you’re also sneaking in some hand-eye coordination practice!

Work Out

Bouncing and weight shifting on a therapy ball can be a fun way to work on trunk strength, postural control, and stability needed for standing and walking.

Always provide close supervision and make sure your child is in a safe position on the ball.

Practice Transitions

Encourage your child to practice moving from sitting to standing using a stable surface for support. Sit-to-stand transitions help develop the strength and coordination needed to control their body as they move into an upright position.

Don’t forget to practice lowering from stand to sit too to build greater independence!

Sensory Exploration

Give your child opportunities to experience different surfaces with their feet and lower body. Grass, sand, carpet, and other safe textures provide different sensory experiences as your child moves and plays.

We especially love the sandbox for combining sensory exploration with gross and fine motor play!

Go Baby Go!

Building confidence is half the battle!

Look for ways to set your child up for success. Celebrate their attempts, even when they only let go for a second. Motivate, encourage, participate, and don’t be afraid to embrace your inner cheerleader!

Standing Red Flags

While children develop these skills at different rates, there are some signs that may indicate your child could benefit from additional support. Reach out to your child’s Pediatrician or a Pediatric Physical Therapist if you notice any of the following:

Child is unable to bear weight through their legs
Child is unable to pull to stand or maintain a standing position
Child demonstrates significant stiffness when standing
Child pulls to stand primarily using their arms rather than actively using their legs
Child demonstrates a significant or persistent lean to one side while standing
Child is not making gradual progress with motor skills
Child has lost a motor skill they previously had

Pediatric Physical Therapists can help you figure out what your child may need to feel more comfortable and confident with standing and provide personalized activities and strategies to support their development.

For Future Milestones, read Teaching Children to Walk!